Erfurt (dpa/th) – After the state parents’ representative called for reimbursement of daycare fees, representatives of the red-red-green coalition and the CDU parliamentary group blame each other for why the parents’ wishes have not been met so far.
One is still waiting for a proposal from the state government on how to meet the demand, said the education policy spokesman for the CDU parliamentary group, Christian Tischner. On the other hand, the left education politician Torsten Wolf sees no scope for reimbursement in the budget because the Ministry of Education has to save money due to the global underspending demanded by the CDU. “The CDU parliamentary group is now responsible for the fact that the legitimate demands of the parents cannot be met,” explained Wolf.
The state parents’ representation demands reimbursement of kindergarten and after-school care fees if there is no full care due to the corona pandemic or parents cannot use the care due to quarantine. Such reimbursements had already existed in Thuringia in the past, but the corresponding regulations expired at the end of 2021. The issue could be discussed in the Education Committee on Friday.
In Thuringia, the red-red-green coalition in parliament is dependent on four votes from the opposition to get majorities. Red-Red-Green passed the budget for the current year with the approval of the CDU. However, the Christian Democrats had made it a condition that the state government save around 330 million euros through a global underspending. According to initial plans, the Ministry of Education is to contribute a large proportion of this.
The CDU parliamentary group argued that it had already called for a permanent solution for the reimbursement of the fees last year. “To this day, Red-Red-Green are blocking a corresponding legal regulation. If the left-wing coalition hadn’t refused, the parents wouldn’t have to fight for their rights now,” explained Tischner.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220303-99-371326/2
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